1 Thessalonians 3
Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica to strengthen and encourage the believers in their afflictions, and Timothy returned with good news of their faith and love. Paul expresses great joy over their steadfastness and prays night and day that he may see them again and supply what is lacking in their faith.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; | Therefore, when we could no longer endure not knowing, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone, |
| 2 | And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: | and we sent Timothy — our brother and a minister of God and our fellow worker in the gospel of Christ — to strengthen You and comfort You concerning Your faith, |
| 3 | That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. | so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. |
| 4 | For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. | For truly, when we were with You, we told You in advance that we were going to suffer tribulation, just as it has happened — and You know it. |
| 5 | For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. | For this reason, when I could no longer endure not knowing, I sent to find out about Your faith — fearing that the tempter might have tempted You and that our labor would be in vain. |
| 6 | But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: | But now Timothy has just come back to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and charity. He tells us that you remember us kindly always, longing to see us, just as we also long to see you. |
| 7 | Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: | Therefore, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted concerning you by your faith. |
| 8 | For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. | For now we live — if you stand fast in the Lord. |
| 9 | For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; | For what thanks can we give back to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice over you before our God, |
| 10 | Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? | as night and day we pray most earnestly that we might see your face and supply what is lacking in your faith? |
| 11 | Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. | Now may God Himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to You. |
| 12 | And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: | And may the Lord make You increase and overflow in love toward one another, and toward all men, just as we do toward You, |
| 13 | To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. | so that He may establish Your hearts blameless in holiness before God, our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. |